Australian Jobs – 2015 publication
The 2015 Australian Jobs publication presents an overview of the labour market to meet the need for industry, occupation and location information for a range of users.
The report is based largely on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures but also uses data from other Government and related agencies. More detailed information is available and the report includes links to help you explore the labour market further.
The Australian labour market is currently subdued, with unemployment at a relatively high level. Mature age and young workers face particular difficulty in the labour market. There is, though, lots of support to help people find real jobs, and the outlook is bright, with more than 1.1 million new jobs expected to be created over the next five years. To deliver better outcomes for job seekers and employers, the Government is committed to a new approach to employment services. The Government is investing $5 billion over three years from 1 July 2015 in new employment services called jobactive. More information is at employment.gov.au/jobactive.
If you are planning for training or work it’s helpful to understand where the jobs are and what employers look for when recruiting. The labour market is, though, complex and many factors influence job prospects. A positive attitude, a willingness to learn and participating in entry-level jobs or volunteer positions to gain experience and work skills can all help.
The forward-looking information in this report provides some guidance about which industries and occupations will have the largest numbers of new jobs in the next five years. Sometimes, though, even in occupations that are in high demand, applicants can face significant competition for vacancies. Conversely, employers sometimes have difficulty recruiting for occupations which have low growth or for which employment is falling.
Employment and training decisions should be based on an assessment of all relevant issues, including aptitude, interests, expectations about pay and working conditions, training requirements and goals. Some examples of the type of information to consider are provided on page 34. Good candidates are valued regardless of labour market conditions, and you are more likely to succeed if you have a passion for the job.
People who complete post-school study are generally less likely to be unemployed and have higher pay than those who do not study after they leave school. Apprenticeships and traineeships allow you to earn and gain work skills as you learn and employment outcomes are strong (see page 33).
Millions of Australians also find rewarding, long-term careers in occupations for which post-school qualifications are not required. In fact, the largest occupation in Australia is Sales Assistant, which employs more than half a million people. Most employers of these workers do not seek highly qualified staff, but they do place a priority on skills such as teamwork, good communication and presentation, and customer service.
We have copies of the publication available at our office, or you can download a copy here.
Inquiries about Australian Jobs should be directed to AustralianJobs@employment.gov.au
